As many other instructors have eloquently stated, communication is all about creating, interpreting, and shared meaning. Of course, this is a complex process! In my classes, we use critical thinking skills and academic research to explore questions like: How do we develop and maintain relationships? How do we present ourselves when we meet a potential employer, a professor, a teammate, a first date, or the parents of our new significant other? How are self-presentation strategies different based on the medium? How can we craft our ideas in a way that is competent, engaging, and persuasive? How are we influenced by the behavior of others and by the messages we receive from family, friends, strangers, celebrities, politicians, and media actors? Approaching those questions with a theory-to-practice mindset helps us to become competent communicators in any situation, whether personal, professional, or civic.

- Dr. Anne-Bennett Smithson

Engage in hands-on activities like team challenges, games, and friendly debates like "what toppings make the best pizza" to learn about small group communication!

We'll use a variety of group activities and projects to help you develop and practice problem-solving, decision-making, listening, and conflict resolution skills within a group setting. 

By the end of the course, you'll be able to apply these skills in both informal and formal settings, so that you and your group can succeed, whether it is for your next game night or for work.

Interested in this course? Email Instructor Allyzah Allene D. Cabugao at adc080@shsu.edu to learn more!

Risk pervades so much of our everyday life, yet we rarely think about the ways we communicate risk or have risk communicated to us. In this course, we will explore risk communication from a conceptual perspective. We will cover questions like “What is risk?”, “How does it intersect with fear and other emotions?”, and “How can communication affect risk perceptions?” Along the way, students will propose their own projects related to risk communication.

Interested in this course? Email Dr. Ethan Morrow at ecm072@shsu.edu to learn more!

I enjoy teaching communication courses and providing students with practical skills in the context of intercultural and health communication. I focus on blending theory with practice so students can apply what they learn in real-life situations. Through interactive discussions, assignments, and presentations, I create an environment where students can grow in confidence and clarity as communicators. 

I am also working on community engagement projects and have created a Study Abroad Program to Japan.

Fun fact about me: I’m into falconry! Lately, I’ve started taking my kids with me, turning it into a family adventure – because what’s better than bonding over birds of prey?

I have taught in communication departments and medical schools. My research and teaching interests lie at the intersections of relationships, media, illness, and identity. I am inspired by the moments when students make connections between their lives and our course material – and even more inspired when their intellectual curiosity consequently leads them to ask and answer questions.

Congratulations to our 2026 - 2027 Executive Board!

Applications for Fall 2026 Inductions will open in week 2 of the Fall 2026 semester.

For more information, check out our About video and follow us on Instagram!

Congratulations to our 2026 - 2027 Executive Board!

We are taking the summer to prepare for the upcoming academic year. We hope that you will join us in the fall!

For more information, join us on BearKatHQ and follow us on Instagram!

Thanks to a collaborative effort between professors in the Department of Communication Studies and Department of Public Health, the Kats Shelf interactive storytelling Academic Community Engagement (ACE) experience was born!
Leading up to this in-person event, students in Professor Adannaa Alexander’s and Sr. Instructor Dena Horne’s classes spent numerous hours interviewing faculty and staff who volunteered to share their healthcare stories. These personal narratives were captured digitally, to be added to a library archive. 
This semester’s event brought everyone together in one place to share their stories face-to-face with others in the campus community. 

Instructor Kristen Hester's PAWsome Pets!

Flour

Major in "I Decide If You Are Worthy To Pet Me" with a specialization in "You're Not On The List"

Allyzah Allene D. Cabugao, Instructor of Communication Studies (pictured on right)

Dr. Caleb George Hubbard, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies (pictured on left)

1905 University Ave | Huntsville, TX 77341 US